10 Healthy Meal Makeovers for the New Year

It's soon to be a new year... any resolutions or goals set for 2011? We've all heard the popular resolutions of managing our weight better or making healthier food choices. In fact, I've made those goals far too often over the years. So if you're looking to make some baby steps {again}, here are 10 Healthy Meal Makeovers for the New Year...

What's Cookin, Chicago's Highlights of 2010

Here we are at the end of another year. It's pretty crazy how quickly time flies but having delicious dishes to enjoy each day certainly makes it more fun. With over 425 recipes shared this past year alone on my blog, it's just so hard to choose favorites. Besides, I've enjoyed sharing daily recipe 'collections' the past month that it's just like sharing my favorite recipes within a specific theme or category. So instead of highlighting recipes of the past year, here are some special culinary adventures I've had each month in 2010 that truly stand out...

10 Hangover Helper Recipes...

Maybe you plan on imbibing this weekend to ring in the new year or you know someone that will. Either way, it's a good idea to be prepared with some things that will ease those potential hangover blues. This post highlights some of the most richest, calorie laden and indulgent dishes that can help with hangovers. And if you're not planning on drinking it up this weekend, you might even find a recipe to make and enjoy before making those healthy lifestyle resolutions! So here's 10 Hangover Helper Recipes to consider before drinking the night away....

Garlicky Chicken Satays

Isn't it more fun to eat food on a stick? Let's see... there's corn dogs, cotton candy, popsicles, lollipops, kabobs, etc. All of these are great stick eats that are perfectly portable too. So if you're planning on having a fun New Years Eve soirée this weekend and why not add these Garlicky Chicken Satays to the menu? Sophisticated, tasty and fun to eat, you might have to make at least a double batch to keep up with the demand!...

5 Stuffed Mushroom Recipes to Savor Now...

With the new year only a few days away, many folks may be planning their menu to ring in the new year. It seems as appetizers are taking center stage this time of year and one favorite appetizer of ours is stuffed mushrooms. There's so many variations and things to stuff mushrooms so here are 5 Stuffed Mushroom Recipes to Savor Now...or later!

Herbed Mushroom Stuffed Pastry Cups

Puff pastry is a staple in my kitchen and I usually have a package or two in the freezer. It's amazing what you can do with puff pastry and everything you use with it just tastes better. For a recent catering order, I made these Herbed Mushroom Stuffed Pastry Cups. These delectable bites are addictive and full of flavor, all in a buttery pastry shell. If you want an elegant appetizer, look no more...

8 Shrimp Recipes for a Cocktail Party

Growing up, I always remembered seeing shrimp cocktail on the table for our New Year's Eve events. And you probably have seen shrimp cocktail on New Year's Eve menus if you dine out. I'm not sure what it is about shrimp cocktail and New Year's Eve or just fancy parties in general. To me, it's a pretty boring appetizer. I mean, it's just steamed shrimp placed on a platter with your typical cocktail sauce and a few lemon wedges. Why not try something different and more interesting, not to mention more flavorful too? Here are 8 Shrimp Recipes for a Cocktail Party that's sure to please...

Ahi Tuna Tartare

Ahi tuna is one of those ingredients that are best served rare. I just can't imagine cooking ahi tuna for very long because for one, it comes out a really unappetizing gray and the texture is so dry. So to really give ahi tuna the proper preparation, you should really serve it rare to medium rare. A great way to do this is to make Ahi Tuna Tartare. These little colorful and refreshing bites make for a delicious presentation and popular appetizer!

4 Fondue Recipes for Dunking...

If you're looking for a fun way to gather friends for New Years Eve with minimal effort in the kitchen, have a fondue party! You can prep all the dippers in advance, even whip up some of these fondue recipes ahead of time and before guests arrive, keep them warm in a mini crockpot or fondue pot. To help you out, here are 4 Fondue Recipes for Dunking the night away...

Grilled Lamb Chops

 

For the past few years, we've celebrated NYE in the comforts of home, mostly in pajamas. Rather than cooking up a big meal for dinner, we just graze all evening and into the night on appetizers and small bites. In fact, I prefer noshing all night than having a meal... it's more fun and casual. So with New Years Eve is just a few days away and it's when I start looking for recipes to make for the big night in. One recipe that's elegant and a perfect size for appetizers are Grilled Lamb Chops. Rubbed with garlic, rosemary, and thyme, these savory, meaty bites are a delicious way to ring in the new year...

A Weekly Serving - 12/26/2010

Happy Holidays to you! Normally this is my usual weekend post done on Saturday, but because it fell on Christmas, it's a day late. I hope for those celebrating Christmas, you had a wonderful and memorable day with loved ones. I had a very blessed Christmas this year since it was the first for my son, Joel. But before all the holiday talk, here's a recap of posts this week...

 May this holiday season
fill your home with joy,
your heart with love,
your life with laughter,
and your belly with delicious eats!
Happy Holidays From Our Kitchen to Yours...
Joelen, Louis & Joel

Here's what I cooked up in the kitchen this past week...

Candy Cane Fudge

A festive treat for those who love chocolate & peppermint...

Magic Cookie Bites
When you just want a bite of a classic treat...

Christmas Corn
Popcorn gets dressed up for the holidays...

Gingersnap Crumble Cupcakes
Gingersnap cookies make these cupcakes taste like eggnog...

Here are the recipe collections I've posted this past week...

7 Fudge Recipes for Your Sweet Tooth 
Fudge for the holidays is a sweet gift to give...

5 Last Minute Holiday Treats
Still need some quick gifts to make? Try these!

5 Pancake Recipes for Christmas Morning...
For that special morning with loved ones...

4 Main Dishes for a Holiday Feast
Here are ideas for dishes to grace your holiday table...

Some recipes that caught my eye and I bookmarked, which I hope to try out soon!...

Chocolate Cookies & Cream Cookies (Jessica @ My Baking Heart) - Double the cookies in this recipe means double the fun!

Homemade Peppermint Marshmallows (Jen @ Beantown Baker) - This was on my list to make this year but alas, next year I'm tackling it for sure! 

Double Ginger Crackles (Erin @ Erin's Food Files) - Ginger is one of those flavors I especially love during the holidays.. 

Baked Chai French Toast (Kelly @ The Pink Apron) - I love the use of chai in this recipe!

Celebrating Two Kings (Nikki @ Pennies on a Platter) - Please check this out & help a family in need...


My weekly musings on Family, Food and Fun...

Family - Joel celebrated his first Christmas this week and it was certainly a fun one to remember. I've never seen such a happy, giggly baby and I'm so blessed that this one is all mine.

We spent Christmas Eve with my family in the suburbs and Joel got all decked out in his little man outfit. Grandma & Grandpa were so thrilled...

Our families aren't especially big on gift giving for Christmas and we tend to fill our holiday table with more food than gifts that fill the bottom of a tree. With Joel sharing his first Christmas with us, it certainly made it more special. To see the brightness in his eyes while we opened up his first envelope gift (thank you Grandma & Grandpa!) and first Christmas gift (thank you Megan, Matt & Will!) was a beautiful thing.

On Christmas day, we spent it at my in laws in the city and Joel woke up smiling as usual. We spent the day here and just feasted with family and friends, watching movies, karaoking and just enjoying the company of loved ones while eating, eating and more eating...

As a family, we decided on one large Christmas gift rather than small ones for each other. We previously drove my beloved Mini Cooper S, which was pretty impractical with a baby... so we got ourselves a brand spanking new 2011 Scion XB which much more practical. It's big enough for all our needs and then some, yet small enough for city living.

Overall, it was a fantastic Christmas full of blessings all around... and we hope you had a wonderful Christmas too!

Food/Restaurant News - This past week at the restaurant was spent testing and tweaking more recipes that will be on our menu. In fact, I prepared a number of them for our family to enjoy for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Here's a sneak peak of some items that will be on our menu...

'Kamayan' Shrimp
Spicy sautéed shrimp in a calamansi citrus sauce

Lechon Kawali

Roasted seasoned pork belly

Kare Kare
Slow braised oxtail and Asian vegetables in a rich peanut sauce

We're all taking a week off from work to spend it with loved ones for the holidays but we will still be working behind the scenes with quite a few logistics. But this past week, we created a Facebook Page along with a Twitter Page. Please follow us as we count down and prepare for our soft opening in a couple of weeks. You can also jump in our discussions on restaurant musings too!

Fun - This past week's fun included some last minute shopping and the ever popular picture with Santa. Joel had his first picture with Santa and wasn't phased a bit. I think he was more interested in all the glittering lights...

Individual Baked Omelets

It's the day after Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring... not even a mouse. And with that I decided it was a perfect time to make breakfast for everyone. This week, I got to choose the Project Pastry Queen recipe and after all the sweets the group has made the past few weeks, I thought it was a great time to make something savory. As a result, I chose Rebecca Rather's Individal Baked Omelets. It couldn't have been at a more perfect time since the holidays are a great time to focus on breakfast eats in our family.

Happy Holidays From Our Kitchen to Yours...

May this holiday season
fill your home with joy,
your heart with love,
your life with laughter,
and your belly with delicious eats!
Happy Holidays From Our Kitchen to Yours...
Joelen, Louis & Joel

4 Main Dishes For a Holiday Feast

It's hard to believe that Christmas is a couple of days away. One thing to note about my family is that we're not really big on giving each other materialistic Christmas gifts that many families do. Instead, we celebrate the holidays with each other's company and go all out for Christmas with a major food feast. Ideally, our menu will consist of beef, poultry, pork and seafood main dishes along with complimenting sides. We're all a bunch of food fanatics so it's no wonder where I get my culinary enthusiasm from! Inspired by my family's celebration of food, here are 4 Main Dishes For a Holiday Feast to wow your family and friends...

Gingersnap Crumble Cupcakes

I recently had a catering order for festive cupcakes, leaving it up to me to decide what flavors. The only exception was that Red Velvet Cupcakes had to be one of them. I absolutely love when my clients give me a chance to play around in the kitchen! For the order I decided to make her requested Red Velvet Cupcakes, Peppermint Chocolate Cupcakes, and these Gingersnap Crumble Cupcakes. The batter interestingly smelled of eggnog and surprisingly, the cupcake had a slight eggnog taste too. These cupcakes are a nice addition to any holiday dessert table...

5 Pancake Recipes for Christmas Morning...

Growing up, I always looked forward to Christmas morning. Not so much for the gifts but for the breakfast we enjoyed. It seemed like Christmas morning was the only time during the year my family would focus on breakfast. When I was young, our Christmas day breakfast consisted of leftovers from the big Christmas Eve dinner we had the night before. But as I got older, I took the lead and started making special traditional breakfasts with an array of sweet and savory options. One dish that always was featured were pancakes. This post brings back childhood memories and perhaps I'm not alone. So here are 5 Pancake Recipes for Christmas Morning to please the inner child in you...

Christmas Corn

My friends are such a great source of inspiration for recipes. Megan is a dear friend of mine who I've mentioned on my blog quite a few times and she's always full of great tips, tricks and recipes! This recipe is one she inspired. One of her super quick and simple treats is her white chocolate glazed popcorn. With that in mind, I made a festive version which I call, Christmas Corn. These make a great snack and pretty packaged treats to share. The best part is all you need are 3 things...

5 Last Minute Holiday Treats

It's crunch time and with Christmas only a few days away, you may have some folks you'd like to do something special for. Rather than buying a gift card or something random at the store, add a personal touch by making something yourself. You don't need a lot of time or even any cooking/baking skills to make these tasty edible gifts! Here are 5 Last Minute Holiday Treats that's sure to bring a smile on anyone's face...

Magic Cookie Bites

This year I made quite a few holiday treat packages for family, friends and also catering orders. Everything from seasonal cupcakes, various truffles, fudge, cookies and biscotti took up space on my kitchen counters, dining table, and in boxes lined and stacked up on shelves and tables. With Christmas only a few days away, I'm glad that a majority of my treat packages have been picked up and delivered. There's just a few more to deliver and the best part of it all is seeing the smiles on everyone's faces. One of the goodies I've made for my holiday treat packages included these Magic Cookie Bites. A spin from the classic Magic Cookie Bars (or Seven Layer Bars), these are the perfect sweet bite of chocolate, butterscotch, nuts and coconut on a graham cracker crust.

7 Fudge Recipes for Your Sweet Tooth

The holidays are a great time to make fudge and with so many varieties, there's a flavor for everyone. A couple years ago I hosted a fudge swap - similar to a cookie swap. Friends came over with fudge they made and we all got a piece to enjoy. I'm reviving those old recipes and sharing them since they're perfect for holiday gift giving. So here are 8 Fudge Recipes for Your Sweet Tooth... or special family and friends who have one!

Candy Cane Fudge

Fudge is one of those candies that are popular to make during the holidays for gifts. This year, I made quite a few food gifts for special family and friends. One of the goodies I included in my packages was this Candy Cane Fudge. This recipe was easily prepared over the stovetop with a few ingredients and the crushed peppermint candy canes added a nice festive touch!

A Weekly Serving - 12/18/2010

Happy weekend to you! Can you believe Christmas is only a week away?! This past week has been really busy with so many things. But first, let's review...

Here's what I cooked up in the kitchen this past week...

Thick & Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

One of the better chocolate chip cookie recipes I've made!

Mini Baked Beef Burritos

When you can't decide between a soft taco and a burrito...

Sausage & Mushroom Cannelloni

Cannelloni is easier than you think to make...

Peppermint Oreo Truffles

Truffles are elegant and easy to make!

White Chocolate Cranberry Biscotti 
These are perfect with a cup of coffee...

Here are the recipe collections I've posted this past week...

10 Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipes

15 Dip Recipes to Dip Into...

15 Lasagna Recipes to Layer Up...

5 Tempting Truffle Recipes

5 Cranberry-licious Cookie Recipes

Some recipes that caught my eye and I bookmarked, which I hope to try out soon!...

Caramelized Sea Scallops (Celeste @ Sugar & Spice) - I need to cook more seafood dishes... and this one looks amazing!

Cheddar Bay Biscuits (Angie @ Telly's Tasty Tidbits) -I'm not a fan of Red Lobster but these biscuits are their only saving grace...

Mocha Crinkles (Cate @ Cate's World Kitchen) - I like the addition of espresso in these!
 
Shrimp & Persimmon Salsa in Tortilla Cups (Dara @ Cookin Canuck) - Persimmons are not common in my kitchen but this recipe encourages me to use it!

French Style Stuffed Chicken Breasts (Annie @ Annie's Eats) - Annie's blog is one of my all time favorites. I especially love when she features savory dishes... like this one...

Eggnog Ice Cream (Lauren @ Lauren's Kitchen) - Only three ingredients to make ice cream? I'm all in!


My weekly musings on Family, Food and Fun...

Family - Joel is doing great this week. He's been working hard at crawling and I'm anxious for the day he gets it down. (Although I may be speaking prematurely since I'm not sure I'm quite ready for him to be mobile... lol). He has the back scoot moves down and now he's doing the dive motion or rocking on all fours. It's funny and I love how determined he is :) This past week he was 31 weeks old and here's a recent pic...

Food/Restaurant News - This week was especially busy in the restaurant. A lot has been accomplished in terms of logistics so we're definitely coming along. Each day this week was spent on testing and tweaking recipes that will be on our menu. We have one more round of tastings on Monday so it's been a relief to get our recipes and dishes decided on. We've also pretty much finalized our menu and I'm working on food descriptions now. Since the menu is what really drives a restaurant, everything will be easy peasy from this point. Tonight, we're checking out 2 local spots with similar menus to see how they compare in terms of atmosphere, menu, service, etc. So far, I must say that my business partners are awesome. We get along really well and I couldn't have asked for better guys to do this with. Finally, I can say I truly love, love, LOVE what I'm doing. Confucius once said, "Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life." I guess I stopped working a week ago. :)

Fun - Since its been so cold lately, we've been enjoying time indoors and watching a lot of movies. This week was also the last week of culinary school. I met up with some of my classmates for a semester end dinner at a local restaurant and coordinated a tour of the restaurant's kitchen. We all had a wonderful time and it was great to hang out with my classmates outside of the kitchen.